Themes that Just Rub You the Wrong Way!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I'm watching Scandal and I love the show but I hate cheating, with a burning passion. I roll my eyes on the cheating scenes. So you can probably tell that cheating is at the top of my list of themes that rub me the wrong way.

How about you?

[Megan]

Cheating is top of my list too. I can't abide by that in rl or in books. I don't even like to read a book and read scenes where the H or h are with other people before they get together.

I also get annoyed at love triangles. Some are ok but overall I don't like them.

There also seems to be a new theme in books of the H and h breaking up for half the book, what is up with that? I read romance. In order for there to be romance, doesn't the couple kinda have to be together?

Ok, off the soap box.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I feel you on love triangles! Blech! Also the breaking up thing.

Feel free to get on your soapbox on this thread! :)

[Breeze]

I'm not a fan of the heroine being kidnapped, held against her will then beat, raped etc. all to have her fall in love with the her captor.
Consequences by Aleatha Romig comes to mind. However, I loved Captive in the Dark by C. J Roberts.
Apparently I make exceptions. The difference for me is if the protagonist is intellegent and gives a good fight to be freed.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Not a fan of cheating either.

I don't care to read stories with alcoholism and drug addiction. Too serious for my taste.

Also not a fan of war. I guess as long as the war/battle scenes aren't too prevalent then I can probably tolerant them.

Also, the Indian kidnaps white woman theme. I don't mind Native American heroes/heroines characters but the concept of the Indian captor bothers me. Otherwise, I love the captor/captive theme. I probably OD'd on them when I was younger.

[Breeze]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "Not a fan of cheating either.

I don't care to read stories with alcoholism and drug addiction. Too serious for my taste.

Also not a fan of war. I guess as long as the war/battle scenes aren't t..."

Agreed on the War theme!

[Lauren]

Definitely no cheating and a huge NO on the heroine falling in love with a man who kidnaps and rapes her - by Johanna Lindsay has this and it was a DNF for me.

[Fani *loves angst*]

I can't abide stories where the hero or heroine falls in love with someone who's married, especially if there're kids in the family (ok, I loved Balogh's but that's the only exception).

I also don't like heroines falling in love with someone who's demeaning and verbally abusive to them. Surprisingly though, I don't feel so strongly for physical abuse/rape (hero towards the heroine, I hate it when the heroine gets raped by a third person) if it's a one-time thing only and before he knew her.

Yes I know it doesn't make any sense, I'm obviously a psychiatrist's wet dream:)

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Fani wrote: "I can't abide stories where the hero or heroine falls in love with someone who's married, especially if there're kids in the family (ok, I loved Balogh's but tha..."

I normally don't like it either but I have read an exception or two. The one that comes to my mind is Linda Howard's Now You See Her. The hero is married but seeking a divorce.

[Fani *loves angst*]

I read that Pamela, and didn't much like it, but I don't think the marriage was the problem for me. But when the other woman wants to stay married and the heroine gets in the middle, I usually have to take a star, even if the wife's a total bitch.

[Anna D.]

I love the hero in The Secret Pearl! to the point where he was almost TOO good/nice.

What I don't like is when the H/h are only nice to each other. Like the hero is this wonderful sensitive man to the heroine but is a complete Dbag to other women who don't deserve to be treated cruelly. Or if the heroine just completely dumps a perfectly nice man who was courting her (without apology or explanation) once the hero sets his mark on her. I mean they don't have to be over the top nice to EVERYONE, but just act like decent people. I want my H/h to be good people all around, not just to each other.

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

I LOATHE Cheaters. Used to just dislike them but thanks to good old Life, I now detest them to hell. Cheating means they are either liars (I hate liars) or they rub it in the face of the person whom they're supposed to be with.

Love triangles, double.. triple love interests, lust conquests, romance for me equates to two people together. It irritates to the bone when I have to suffer and endure an annoying other trying to conquer my H or h when they already have someone else (my h or H). There are very few books in which I actually liked the 'other' guy/gal but they're a dot compared to the seas of fishes who try to steal my H/h from my h/H. Usually if the blurb tells me there is a love triangle I toss the book away and forget it ever peaked my interest.

[Pamela]

I can't stand books where the H and h break up due to a stupid misunderstanding/lack of communication, then twenty years later run into each other and finally talk. They realize what idiots they were and reconcile.

Usually in these books they both married someone else for a while, but only the H has children. The h is now past childbearing age, but she's just thrilled to raise his children and the step children are just thrilled to have her in their family.

My other deal breaker are series in which each book ends in a cliffhanger. I now wait until a series is complete before I buy it if cliffhangers are involved.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Pamela wrote: "I can't stand books where the H and h break up due to a stupid misunderstanding/lack of communication, then twenty years later run into each other and finally talk. They realize what idiots they w..."

I agree! Hate that misunderstanding plot. Grrr!

I'm not fond of cliffhangers either. And it makes me so mad because you don't know until you've read it. The book itself gives no hint. So unless you do major research reading reviews (that could give away major spoilers) you just don't know.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Cliffhangers are super annoying!

I just plain don't want to read a romance with adultery and cheating. It's a major buzzkill. It's not romantic to me. Forbidden love isn't appealing to me when it involves breaking marriage vows or destroying a family that way. When the hero has cheated before, I have problems believing he won't do it again. I would say the same for the heroine, but I haven't read as many where the heroine was the cheater. I guess I don't even understand why authors write these books. Do they feel that because of all the angst and obstacles to the HEA I will like it better, even though the MC are adulterers?

[Teresa]

Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "I LOATHE Cheaters. Used to just dislike them but thanks to good old Life, I now detest them to hell. Cheating means they are either liars (I hate liars) or they rub it in the face of the person who..."

I agree I don't like love triangles. For the most part I feel like if you can't choose then your not really in love with either of them.

Plus its so over done. Or the other person is so obviously in it for the wrong reasons or they are just out for revenge or are the secret bad guy. Blahk it is so annoying.

I also get super irritated when say its the heroine and two guys are fighting for her. And she knows where her heart belongs but she keeps stringing the other guy along. Especially when the the other guys is super sweet.

[Lauren]

Pamela wrote: "I can't stand books where the H and h break up due to a stupid misunderstanding/lack of communication, then twenty years later run into each other and finally talk. They realize what idiots they w..."

Those silly misunderstandings are infuriating and one of the main reasons that I've all but stopped reading contemporary romance - the H/h were either keeping secrets (usually something completely idiotic) or not talking to each other making me want to scream "grow up already"!

[Cherrie]

I agree Pamela and Lauren, I really hate it when the H/h have a misunderstanding that could be easily fixed, but it keeps them apart for most of the book ugh...

[Pamela]

I have also stopped reading most YA fiction because the h is so often portrayed as being TSTL. Okay, I am in my fifties and perhaps out of touch, but I know so many YA women that are mature and responsible. Why can't authors write YA heroines as acting like true adults?

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Pamela wrote: "I have also stopped reading most YA fiction because the h is so often portrayed as being TSTL. Okay, I am in my fifties and perhaps out of touch, but I know so many YA women that are mature and re..."

lol Maybe they are writing about that small percentage who aren't mature and responsible. I'm in my fifties, too, and I can relate. That is one of the reasons I don't read many YA books.

[Teresa]

Pamela wrote: "I have also stopped reading most YA fiction because the h is so often portrayed as being TSTL. Okay, I am in my fifties and perhaps out of touch, but I know so many YA women that are mature and re..."

I agree, it is an epidemic in YA books!I'm 31 and can't help thinking I wasn't that stupid at that age.

[Lauren]

Teresa wrote: "Pamela wrote: "I have also stopped reading most YA fiction because the h is so often portrayed as being TSTL. Okay, I am in my fifties and perhaps out of touch, but I know so many YA women that ar..."

I'm sure I had more common sense at that age than most of the YA heroines I've encountered.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I was pretty sheltered as a teen, and looking back, I had some pretty strange ideas. I was really quite goofy well into my twenties. I think the farther away from YA hood, the less we can identify. My problem with YA books is I hated high school and all the mean girl stuff.

One thing that bothers me about YA books/movies/tv is how the kids try to act so grown. They are not. They are children still.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

I think I was definitely naive and a bit gullible as a teen but I wasn't really immature. I stayed out of trouble mainly because I knew there was consequences. And I wasn't one to tempt fate.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Yeah, I was pretty shy and in my head, so that kept me out of trouble, along with the grace of God.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Yes, I was painfully shy too.

[Pamela]

I was saved by horses. I was so busy caring for them I didn't have time to get in trouble. I think being responsible for another creature's life brings on maturity.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

I was also a big reader back then and I would often choose to read over going out with family or what few friends I had outside of school.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I could see that in both cases. I was such a bookworm and into that and art that it helped keep me out of trouble. I knew I wanted to go to college and become a veterinarian, so that keep me focused on studies. My sister and I were the most boring teenagers ever!

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

I loved art too. I had aspirations of being an artist but I truly didn't have enough talent. Art class at school was my favorite class.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I don't have that much talent, but I am enjoying getting back into my artwork. I would love to take some more classes.

[Pallavi]

I don't like time-travel books. I dunno exactly what I don't like about them but everytime I've read/watched something involving time travel I haven't completed it.

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

Lhethal wrote: "I don't like time-travel books. I dunno exactly what I don't like about them but everytime I've read/watched something involving time travel I haven't completed it."

I kind of agree with you in that I only like Time Travel books that are really good. There also has to be a reason for the time travel, otherwise it's.. not really my cup of tea. I blame my dislike to this one time when I read three romance books with time travel, one after the other, and they all had the stupidest most annoying and incomprehensible reasons for time traveling. The world was the same old same old and they went on with life as if they never time traveled. Why the hell did they time travel anyway? I forget except it was for a dumbass reason in which I recall my unamused eyes rolling. But Time Travel's pretty okay in my book. I do like to read them on occasion only though. Too much and it loses its intrigue.

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

Pamela wrote: "I have also stopped reading most YA fiction because the h is so often portrayed as being TSTL. Okay, I am in my fifties and perhaps out of touch, but I know so many YA women that are mature and re..."

I find YA romance repetitive and annoying mostly. If I find a book that's labeled YA I tend to not read it or say "ok, I'll read it later.. maybe.." and then I never do. I don't have high expectations for YA. I'm trying to be more considerate with YA but they, 90 percent of the time, do not satisfy me and mostly piss me off or bore me with their annoying "perfect" or "Puuurfect bad boy" Heroes and annoying heroines and/or I'm-so-awesome heroines. What I detest the most is their irritating and cliqué love triangles.


Btw, what is tstl???:)

[Pallavi]

@Goge: Tstl-Too stupid to live :)

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

LOL I forgot. Thanks Lhetal!:)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I'm not a big fan of time travel, but like Goge, I have read some books that were really good despite not liking this theme.

[Rachel Annie]

I haven't read too many time travel romances, but right now I'm about halfway through and I'm enjoying it. The heroine is a US Air Force pilot and most certainly NOT tstl. I haven't gotten to the point where the time travel is explained, but it usually seems to be that Fate wanted them to be together no matter what or something along those lines with no real explanation.

And I've wondered, do time travel romances fall under the umbrella of paranormal romance? Something out of the ordinary is definitely going on but I wasn't sure if it was considered part of that genre.

PS The cover of Once a Pirate is super cheesy, but the writing is very good, I swear!

[Lauren]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "I was also a big reader back then and I would often choose to read over going out with family or what few friends I had outside of school."

I never had the opportunity of getting into trouble as a teen because my nose was always buried in a book. Come to think of it, I did get into trouble once in math class because I was reading Anne of Green Gables under the table rather than doing math exercises.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

For shame, Lauren! lol

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

Lauren wrote: "Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "I was also a big reader back then and I would often choose to read over going out with family or what few friends I had outside of school."

I never had the opportunity of ..."

LOL The only times I breached the rules of the school I GOT CAUGHT. tsk~ The principal and a policewoman even got involved.. otherwise it was MOBS (to this day I'll remember the feeling of a mob coming after you) of students. But other than that!!! I kept my nose clean and was a little Miss Goody Two Shoes, a perfect student! Because, seriously, I was a natural little Miss Goody-Goody and happy-go-lucky but responsible individual.

(And I love art! I even went to an Arts school. Or to be more exact, a Performing Arts School for high school [plus a normal high school in the day-time]. It had drawing, painting, sculpting, ect in it. I was in there for theatre.)

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

My love in art was sketching. I just loved drawing. Never really did much in painting or sculpting or anything else.

Gog, I was always sure I'd be caught too. I just KNEW the moment I did something, I'll be caught and in trouble for the rest of my life.

[Geri Reads]

I actually don't like love triangles. :/ I can tolerate love triangles involving two girls fighting over a boy but two guys fighting over girl? Not too fond of that. I generally avoid books like that.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

And why are so many YA books built around the love triangle? I actually avoid a lot just because of it.

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "My love in art was sketching. I just loved drawing. Never really did much in painting or sculpting or anything else.

Gog, I was always sure I'd be caught too. I just KNEW the moment I did somethin..."

LOL! I had that feeling too! Which is why I tried to stay on the safe side of being obedient in school. I only have like three little dots of misdemeanor (not official ones! Although I did get someone a 'ticket' which I will be faulted for for the rest of my life).

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

Geri's ~ EverAfterRomance ~ wrote: "I actually don't like love triangles. :/ I can tolerate love triangles involving two girls fighting over a boy but two guys fighting over girl? Not too fond of that. I generally avoid books like that."

I can't stand any struggling for the same boy or girl. It's as though someone tied me up and mobs are throwing shoes, utensils, ect, at my head. It grates beyond bone. It's like a disgusting black sludge is creeping into my system and settling inside. I don't have the most pleasant of nature so love triangles and such cue eye twitching, screaming, eye rolling and books flying. Plus harmful thoughts to the books.

[Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac,]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "And why are so many YA books built around the love triangle? I actually avoid a lot just because of it."

Same. Sometimes I feel guilt for being so harsh but.. I'd rather not partake of three-way romance crises.

[Jessica]

Geri's ~ EverAfterRomance ~ wrote: "I actually don't like love triangles. :/ I can tolerate love triangles involving two girls fighting over a boy but two guys fighting over girl? Not too fond of that. I generally avoid books like that."

Not a big fan of love triangles either. Specially when the person in the middle pretty much knows which one she is going to pick but keeps stringing the other person along. That is super irritating.

I also really dislike liars. I don't like to be lied to so I don't like reading about the hero or heroine lying.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I totally agree, Jessica!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "And why are so many YA books built around the love triangle? I actually avoid a lot just because of it."

Same. Sometimes I feel guilt for being so harsh..."

Hey I am the same. It has no appeal. Plus, it's kind of silly because how many teen girls have more than one guy who is vying for their affections?